"Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full."

See you Soon!

ELDER KEATON D. SEGIL

Monday, August 10, 2015

Wow, I don't even know where to start. This has been, by far, the busiest week I've had on my mission. On Monday night, all the missionaries I came to South Africa with were able to go to the mission home for dinner with President and Sister Dunn. It was so much fun and so many memories were brought to pass! As you can imagine, we didn't get much sleep that night for Transfers on Tuesday, which went so well. The entire Johannesburg mission was there and all 22 of us bore our final Testimony. It was such a powerful meeting and I can't believe how fast the time has gone!

For my last week or so of mission, I will be with Elder Dlamini(Swaziland) and Elder Bua(Uganda). We are in the area of Kwa Thema. We had a powerful week this week as we had over thirty lessons and even the baptism of Paballo Mayiane. I look forward to this last full week of mission and know it is going to be sweet. I love serving in township and being the only white guy in the area.

Well all I can say is THE CHURCH IS TRUE and I KNOW IT! The work I have done these last two years has been for the people of South Africa and I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has and will forever make their lives increasingly better now and FOREVER!

Monday, August 3, 2015

Well I don't have too much time today because for all of us going home this month, we will be going to the mission home for a final farewell and we need to make a few stops along the way. The Dunn's are having us all over for dinner and it should be a lot of fun!

This was a great week and unfortunately both Elder Loveless and I are leaving this area. I will spend my last two weeks in a threesome somewhere else in the zone. It should be lots of fun and I hope to be able to put up pictures this week or next.

On Thursday, I had final interviews with President Dunn, which went so well. I love the Dunn's very much and am so grateful for all their hard work!

Well I will hopefully have more time next week, but for now keep well and see you soon!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Well this week was one of our most successful weeks in this area as far as seeing people and teaching them. It went by so fast and was a lot of fun. On Friday, Elder Olson and Elder Worton from the office came on Splits with us, which was a lot of fun. We were able to have seven lessons that day and still have time to go buy ice cream at Steers. Lekker stuff!

Well this is Elder Loveless's last week of mission and we will be very busy seeing everyone, so he can leave them with his final testimony.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Wow, I can't believe my time here in South Africa is coming to an end. Lots of good thing are happening and I plan to finish my mission strong. We had a good week and lots of sweet things happened.

On Thursday, I went on exchanges to a township called Kwa Thema with Elder Bua, who is in my district. I had a great day there and it is always nice to go back to the townships. They are teaching lots of great people and all is going well there.

Saturday was pretty busy as we had our final Temple Trip in the morning with all the Elders I came to South Africa with. It was so awesome to see them all and so crazy that two years have gone by. Time truly does fly by when you're having fun. We all went out to eat afterward at Mikes Kitchen and then headed back to our own areas. We went to a fairwell braai at our ward mission leader's house because he is moving to England at the end of the month. It was a lot of fun and so nice to see all the members from the different areas I have served. Have fun in England Jason, see you soon!

We were also able to see the McCurdy family this week and it has been so sweet. The Lord has prepared them over these past few years and everything they are doing goes along with the gospel. I can't wait to see them again this week.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Wow, I lost track of time and now don't have too much time to write. This was another great week and we were able to get lots done. This is an area, where seeding & planning is in the majority, which is awesome because I will be able to see all these people again and see what they have become.

On Monday, we went bowling for my first time in a long time and wow, it took me a while to warm up. I am nowhere as good as I use to be. I did win the last game so that was sweet.

On Wednesday, we did service in Kwa Thema with Elders Brown and Bua. It was a lot of fun and always nice to be back in township. We moved lots of bricks to the back of the house and then two piles of dirt were moved to the yard. We had tea time and also lunch, which was so nice.

We had interviews with President Dunn on Thursday, which went so well. I love talking with President Dunn and then with Sister Dunn. They are so great and I learn so much from them. Sister Dunn had a class on etiquette and I learned a lot. It was weird learning because some places we eat with our hands, but it will be useful back home.

On Friday, I had my last Zone meeting and lots of good things were discussed. Locking our Hearts, was the main topic. Other than that, all is going well and will continue to be!

Monday, July 6, 2015

This was one of those weeks where, we made lots of plans and appointments, but all seemed not to work. It was a holiday week here in South Africa, so it is to be expected. The really sweet part was, even though most of our appointments fell through, the Lord still allowed us to find those who are prepared for His gospel.

On Saturday, all of our seven appointments cancelled and at this time it was about three or four in the afternoon. We had the car that day, so we were deciding who we could go check up on. We decided to pull the car over and think about what the Lord would have us do. The sun was out and was making the car warm inside, so I looked for a shady place to park. All the trees have lost their leaves, since it is winter and shady spots are scarce. We were prompted to go into this neighborhood and lo and behold there was a big fence, which created just enough shade to be under. We said a prayer and decided to knock on three secluded houses next to us. The first one we went to, a white lady came out and greeted us nicely. We got to talking and she was very interested in what we had to say. Her husband was at the door and she said he doesn't usually come out because he has a few facial deformities from a recent hijack. I told her so do I, tell him to come out. He came out and we had a sweet talk and it turns out they are new to the area and looking for a church. They have just been married for about eight months and have had a rough time. A few months ago, they were hijacked and the husband was pulled out of the car and shot up through the bottom of the jaw to the roof of the mouth with a hollow point. He recounted the experience and said he saw himself being shot and a hand come through his head and stop the bullet from going to his brain. The bullet stopped and fell back into his mouth after going through the roof of his mouth. It is quite a remarkable experience and goes to show that God does truly love his Children. I can't wait to see this family again this week and teach them about the gospel.

We went to the Temple this week and it gets better and better every time. It was very busy as a lot of people were up here from the eastern cape. I would also like to send out my prayers and love to the Packer family as they have just lost a true man of God. I long for the day when I can meet President Packer.

Even though the week was tough, we were able to get things done and the work of the Lord continues. I hope you all had a sweet 4th of July. Have a great week!

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

This week went by super fast and we were able to do so much. On Tuesday we went to transfers and sadly I had to say goodbye to my trainer Elder Dutson. His two years are up and he is now back in Idaho. I will soon follow him back to BYUI! I also got to say goodbye to Elders Cazier, Malapula and Tye. I will miss you guys.

It was Elder Loveless's Birthday on Wednesday and we went to the Van Zyl's house for dinner. It was super nice and I just love going to their home. He is now 21 years old.

We had a ward activity on Friday, which was so much fun. We used the gym floor and made a giant chess board as well as snakes and ladders. We were the game pieces and had weapons of war to use when defeating the opponent. We also played life size Jengo with wood blocks. Lekker Stuff! There was a great turn out and I hope to have one more activity before I leave.

The next day, being Saturday, we went to the Temple for baptisms, which was so nice. We were able to go with our ward and had such a great time. I love being inside the Temple and feeling the presence of the Lord.

On Sunday we had our investigator come to church and two Nigerian guys came as well. It was pretty sweet. During Sacrament meeting we found out the the Johannesburg mission, under the direction of the quorum of the twelve Apostles, will be split. The province of Limpopo and area of Pretoria are now part of the Botswana/Namibia mission. All the missionaries serving up there are no longer part of the Joburg mission. They will be missed.

It has been a wonderful week and this week will be even better. I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Monday, June 22, 2015

It has been another great week here in Selcourt and great things are happening. We had two strong investigators come to church and they are continuing to progress very well. Their names are Patricia and Anna and we hope to have them ready for baptism our last Sunday.

We got transfer news this week and Elder Loveless and I will be staying together, which is pretty cool because it is our last transfer on mission. It is the last chance we have to work hard and really turn the area of Selcourt around before we go home.

Since Elder Loveless and I are staying, we are going to try and learn Afrikaans as best we can. There are over ten official languages here and I have served around all of them, so I know bits and pieces of all of them.

We have a very awesome week coming up this week and I can't wait to tell you about it. Other than that, the Church is true, the book is Blue, and I am almost done with my two :(

Monday, June 15, 2015

Wow, this was a glorious week in Selcourt. So many great things happened and I am now revived to work even harder. I was able to give two blessings this week and on one of them, I felt the spirit stronger than I ever have before while giving a blessing. I could feel someone there with me and wanted to open my eyes to see if I could see them, but didn't. The second was to a very sick boy and I was able to bless him to sleep and to be able to heal quickly. At the end of the blessing he was sawing logs! What a blessing it is to have and to hold the Priesthood!

We had many lessons this week and more than half of them were investigator lessons. We even had SOMEONE COME TO CHURCH. We worked with members and they gave that person a ride. Her name is Patricia and she is WHITE, not that it really matters. She loved church and will bring her friend next time.

After Church on Sunday, I went with Elder Worton, one of the APs to Centurion for a baptism. It was sweet and all went well there.

Miracles are truly coming to pass and there are so many more to come for the last two months of my mission.

I hope you all have a great week and Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers out there. I LOVE YOU DAD.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Wow, winter has come to South Africa as I have worn two sweaters and a scarf everyday this week. I'm pretty sure after being here for almost two years that I now have African blood. The worst part is, is there is zero insulation in the buildings here, so the inside of most buildings is the same temperature as the outside. I stay nice and warm with my stuff, but does get cool as we ride the bikes after the sun sets.

This week went by super quick as they all do and a lot got done. We are continuing to work with the members and all is going well there. We had zone conference in Bedfordview this last Wednesday and I sure learned a lot. Most of the topics we discussed will greatly help us back home such as being self reliant and having integrity. I enjoyed it a lot. We also did a 30 second elevator speech with Sister Dunn, which really will be useful in the business world.

We were able to get another bike this week after what happened last week, so that was sweet. Somehow I popped my tire, so I had to patch that. It was a sweet week and I look forward to the coming week.